Tripuri Poornima Trimbakeshwar-Nashik

Tripurai Poornima

Kartik poornima is celebrated as Tripuri or Tripurari Poornima. It is celebrated by lighting diyas all around the house. There is a very interesting story behind celebration of deepotsava on this day.

This story is from Tretayug when a great Sage called Gritsamada lived. He had composed mantra. ‘Gananan Tvaam Ganapatim havamahe’. Once Rishi Gritsamada had a very big cough. From that came alive a reddish child. He told Gritsamada, “I am your son, When I become big, I shall conquer the three worlds and also defeat Indra.” In order to turn his ambitious sons mind towards devotion, he taught him Ganesh Mantra “Gananan Tvaam ganapatim Havamahe” and advised him to worship Lord Ganesha.

The child chanted the mantra for 5000 years and pleased lord Ganesha. Ganesha appeared before him to ask for his wishes. He asked for Lordship over the entire universe, fulfillment of all his desires and control over men, yaksha and Gandharva. Ganesha blessed him and said "All your wishes will come true. I will give you three cities made if iron, gold and silver. As long as the cities are intact you will not be defeated. You will be called Tripura, but only Shiva will be able to defeat you, through one arrow from Shankara all your three cities will be destroyed.”

Tripurasur came back and defeated all kings, Indra and serpents like Vasuki to gain control over three worlds. Brahma, Vishnu along with other gods were hiding in Himalayas while shiv and parvati left kailash and started living in Mandara mountain. 

Tripurasur had two sons chand and prachada. He gave kingdom of Brahmalok to one of his son and Vishnulok to another son.
Dev Rishi Narad once came to Himalayas to help Gods. He told them the history of Tripurasur  and told them that only Shiva can kill him. He told them to please Vighnaharta Gajanan to get rid of the danger. Gods then worshiped Ganapati and praised him by singing eight shloka, stotra called ‘Sankatnashanam Ganapati Stotra’( We have covered this stotra in detail in one of our posts). Ganapati said, “Whoever utters this stotra when in danger will be protected by me. I shall bring about Tripura’s defeat through Shankara’s hands.”

Then Ganapati in the guise of Brahmin went to Tripura’s abode and said, “O king! I am learned Brahmin called Kaladhar and have mastery over 64 arts. Hearing your fame I came to meet you.” Triprasur told him, “Hey Kaladhar, you show me your art, If I am pleased i will give fulfill all your wishes.”
Kaladhar said, “O king, I will give you three aeroplanes.You can go anywhere you desire. Except Lord Mahadev nobody can destroy these planes.”

Tripurasur was very pleased with his art and told Kaladhar to demand whatever he wants. Kaladhar demanded idol of Chintamani which was in possession of Lord Shankar.
Tripurasur sent his messenger on mount Mandar to get the idol of Chintamani. The messengers arrogantly demanded idol of Chintamani. Shiva refused to give the idol and started a war against Tripurasur. Shiva himself started off for the war and in a hurry forgot to worship Ganesh before leaving.

The axle of the chariot in which Shiva was sitting was smashed by Ganapati.There were other obstacles too.The Gods had retreated, unable to cope up with great onslaught of the demons. Shiva was left alone in the battle field . Knowing about defeat of the Shiva in the war, Goddess Parvati left mount Mandar and went to her father, Himalaya.
The victorious Tripurasur came on mount Mandar and took the idol Chintamani with him. While returning back home, the idol suddenly disappeared from the hands of Tripurasur.Thinking it to be an ill omen Tripurasur returned back with heavy heart.

Because of Gods defeat, sacrificial work (yadnya yag) was stopped and all the three worlds were ruled by unrighteousness.
Sage Narad told Shiva that they got defeated because he forgot to worship Ganesha before beginning the war.He also said “Tripurasur has pleased Ganesha through his long penance. You have to please him better.Then alone you can get victory.”

Lord Shivshankar was convinced . He went to Dandakaranya. In a solitary place he set in Padmasna posture,performed Pranayam and chanted six letters mantra of Ganapati. At the time Gajanana emerged from his face with a peculiar form. He had five faces, ten hands, moon on the crest, garlands of heads in the neck and the ornament of serpents. He was looking like Shiv roop of Gajanana .

He told Shankra,” In future whenver you remember me I will appear before you and remove your obstacles. After chanting my Beejamantra , send an arrow on the aeroplanes of Tripurasur. By that time all his three cities will be burnt. then you can easily kill tripurasur. I will also tell you my Sahastranam stotra (one thousand names). By chanting the same one gets victory everywhere, enemies are destroyed and desired fruits are obtained.
Lord Shivshankra chanted Shri Ganesha Sahastranama stotra and Ganesh appeared infront of the gods. Shiva established a Ganesha temple at the same place where he appear. This place was called Manipur, presently known as Ranjangaon.The deity here is hence rightly called as Mahaganapati.

Lord Shiva came back to fight with demon (Asura) This time he made chariot of special nature. Prithvi (earth) became the chariot. Sun and Moon became the wheels. Brahma Deva was the charioteer. Meru became the bow. Vishnu was the arrow. Ashwinikumar became the horses. Shiva chanted the Ganesh Sahastranama and fixed the arrow on the bow; with the sankalpa (determination) of destroying Tripurasura he released the arrow. At that time there was light everywhere like that of lighting Tripurasura fainted and fell down dead. His three cities were burnt. The demons Prana came out of his body in the form of a Jyoti (flame) and entered Shivas body. The asura thus attained Moksha(salvation).

This incident happened on Kartiki Purnima. Hence it is called Tripuri Purnima. Gods got their aboads back. Sages started studing vedas. All the three worlds were happy. Shiva was worshiped and deepotsava was also celebrated in the night of this Purnima. Alongwith Magha and Bhadrapada Chaturthi, this tripuri purnima is also celebrated in some of the Ganapati temples. Various deeds like snan (bath) and Dan charity on this day leads to abundance